January 10, 2005

Baptism

Interesting, the turn some baptisms have taken in the ensuing years since John and Jesus started all this trouble.

A recent article in USA Today reported that christenings (formerly known as baptisms) are becoming a regular stop on the celebrity party circuit and reached a new level of extravagance recently in Sawbridgeworth, England, at a star-studded event that looked more like a Hollywood premiere than a religious ceremony.

The Church of England service was held at a private chapel on the mansion grounds and was followed by a six-course dinner and dance, all reportedly for only $900,000. The pop-star godfathers (who, some may have noticed, were partners) arrived by silver Rolls-Royce.

The article also reports that celebrity baby christenings are now all the rage, especially in Europe. In order to maintain privacy, most are hosted in their homes rather than in a church.

Some of us wondered if Bishop Eames (of Windsor Report fame) might be available to lead a pan-Anglican study of our shared theology of baptism. The study might even find the issue of the godparents’ partnership a troubling concern.

On the other hand, over here in ECUSA, we take an apparently different view about this rather fundamental scriptural sacrament. As our sisters and brothers in the Anglican Communion seem compelled to challenge us on scriptural grounds for an action of the General Convention of ECUSA, that should provide an altogether level playing field.

For openers, we might remember that John and Jesus, trouble or no, helped make this a scriptural sacrament of perhaps even greater significance and authority than that of the episcopate.

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